60- On Her Rhythm

On her way back, her car's tyre got punctured. She called a mechanic and was waiting for him but then saw Lucifer in April's car who was going to her outlet but when he saw her on the road he stopped. "Red..." He called her, coming to her. "Why are you here?" Red asked. "I wanted to see you." He replied. "You did, now leave." She sighed. "Waiting for a mechanic?" He asked. She rolled her eyes, leaning on her car, ignoring him. Lucifer laughed a little to himself and stared at her. Red tried her best to ignore his gaze and smile but couldn't resist and ask out of annoyance, "What are you staring at?" "You." He replied. "Then stop doing it, it's creepy." She said, His smile turned into a sad one as he lowered his head. "Sorry if that made you uncomfortable but what can I do when I love your hair." He said, looking at her again. "I am sorry if it was unpleasant but I love your smiles." He said with a tear stinging in his eye. "I still love the radiance you no longer possess." Red lowered her head, turning away from him, hurting by his words, "I'm sorry if you don't like it but I still love my radio. A gap of a few years cannot change this fact. And I- Oh, looks like your mechanic is here." He said, gulping to not cry and left without speaking anything else with a tear rolling down his cheek. Red watched him go and whispered, "And what about me...?" ~~•~~• "Careful Red, you'll fall." Erich said, holding the chair over the table on which Red was standing while fixing a photo of their marriage on the wall. "I won't, just hold it tightly." She said, fastening the nail on the wall. "Who told you to do it anyways?" Erich asked with a sigh. "You will fall." Erich said again but she didn't listen and continued to hang the photo. "Pass me the photo and take it." Red said, giving the hammer and taking the photo. "It could be hung any other time as well." "Exactly, if later then why not now?" Red reasoned, setting the photo. "Why are you doing it anyways? Anyone could do it." He continued but Red didn't listen. "We don't have a single picture of us here. At least hang out a wedding picture." Red said and finally hung the photo. "Yay! It's done." Red smiled widely. "Okay, now come down." He said. She nodded and turned with her smile fading, "What?" "How am I supposed to get down?" Red timidly asked. "What do you mean? Get down the way you get up." He shrugged. "Get on the table first and to the ground." He told her. Red nodded and was about to get down from the chair but tripped again and fell over Erich. "Ow." Red whined but didn't feel any pain due to another being beneath her. "It should be me who'd be wincing." Erich said. "Ow, Red. I told you to be careful." Red passed him a nervous smile and pulled away. "Oh, Sorry." She smiled. Erich sighed and shook his head. "You okay?" "Except for the back you assaulted, I am fine." He said, getting up. "Sorry." Red clicked her tongue cutely. Erich looked at her and smiled, loving her smiles and the way their relationship reached the point of friendship and he loved it, how she smiles with him, how she is gradually being her old enthusiastic self. "Why don't you apply something on it?" Red suggested. He hummed, "Yeah, I will do it." 'After this smile, I don't think I need anything else.' Erich thought, watching Red smiling while watching a movie on the LED. "What are you looking at?" Red asked, noticing his gaze on her. "Don't smile this beautifully." He said, enchanted by her. "Why?" She asked. "I never thought a day like this would come... I swear I will cry." He said, being emotional by facing the day she actually and wholeheartedly smiles at him. Red chuckled at his words, "Why will you cry?" She asked. "I can't believe it. I still believe it's a dream and I can wake up anytime." "Nothing of this sort will happen." Red said, and pinched his cheeks, "You were such an idiot who took small words to his heart." Erich laughed a little, "That's how I am." "Don't do this ever again, if you want to say something, tell me." Red said, softly, turning to him. "I will try." He replied. A brief silence came between them where Erich watched Red with great intensity and asked, "Can I ask you something, Red?" Red hummed, motioning him to continue, "Why... are you doing this to.. Lucifer?" he asked hesitantly. Red stopped and turned to him completely, "What do you mean?" She asked. "Why are you hurting Lucifer when he did nothing?" "I don't understand what you are trying to say?" Red asked, bewildered. "Why don't you try to talk with him?" It will break my walls. She thought as her heart skipped a beat. "Why are you running away from him? He literally did nothing wrong. In fact it was you who betrayed him by marrying me." Erich said, softly, coming closer. Red nibbled on her bottom lip, looking down, "I don't know. I am scared." Red whispered. "Of what?" He whispered back. "T-To.. cheat on you.." "How could it be cheating?" "I.. I.." Red tried to say but couldn't, almost crying. Erich stood up and held her shoulder, sitting down. "Red... my happiness is with you, your smiles mean the world to me and if it's not with me, I don't want it." He smiled, voice low and soothing, trying to provide her tranquility. "But, Erich. I am happy with you." Red replied quickly. "Who are you trying to fool, Red? I honestly don't understand what you are trying to do but it's not worth it. If you have to sacrifice your love for it, leave it." "At least let me try." "Red, hurting both yourself and Lucifer won't do any good. I know how his presence affects you, how you are drawn to him even being away. You love-" Red cut him with an enraged tone, "Enough, Erich. "Red, you are not getting it." Erich tried to say but she removed his hand and stood up, "I don't want to listen." She said angrily. "What are you running away from?" He asked. Red, who was leaving with almost tears in her eyes, stopped in her tracks to hear these words. She closed her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek and she left without saying anything else. Erich stood up and walked after her. He entered their room and saw her sitting on the bed. He said beside her, waiting for her to say something and she did, "I don't understand Erich. I want to start my life with you. You suffered so much because of me. I don't want to hurt you more." "I understand Red but you cannot spend your life due to some pity." "No, I truly want it." Red said even though some skeptic lingered in her heart. Erich smiled widely, "You thought this much, it's enough for me." "You don't desire more?" She asked and he shook his head no. "Why are you so happy with me after what I did to you?" Red asked. "You are smiling. I am content." He replied immediately. "You are crazy." Red said, looking at him and laughing a little. "You made me." He replied. They both laughed a little and went to sleep.